Color Scheme: First Colors

Registration: N9000

Composition: A Refinished Douglas Factory Polished Aluminum Model

Dimensions: Length: 25.0" (63.5cm), Wingspan 21.5" (55cm)

Condition: Excellent

Model History: The model blank and decals were produced by Marketing Aids (subcontractor for Douglas) in the 1960s. I acquired the blank from a private collector in 2002. This was then Beautifully Refinished by my friend Jim Powroznik (James Powroznik Custom Models), Clovis, CA. and I Picked It Up on December 20, 2002. Once Again Jim Thanks For The Outstanding Work! During my younger years West Coast / Air West / Hughes Airwest was the only carrier to serve the small town where I grew up and I was very fortunate to fly on all 3 of these airlines. Having an Air West DC-9 model in my collection has great sentimental value to me and someday I hope to possibly add a Hughes Airwest & a West Coast "Douglas Factory" DC-9 to my collection as well.

Air West's DC-9 History: Air West was created on April 7, 1968 by the merger of three west coast "local service carriers" - Bonanza Airlines, Pacific Airlines & West Coast Airlines. The CAB had hoped that by merging these 3 airlines together the combined airline would be more profitable and less defendant on the US Government for subsidies to keep them solvent. Unfortunately this idea failed nearly right from the beginning and if Howard Hughes hadn't announced his intentions to buy Air West on August 12, 1968 then the fledgling airline would have faced certain bankruptcy. During Air West's short and very colorful life it graced the skies with 4 different liveries, each in a two color scheme, on the 4 different types of aircraft it operated - the 727-100, DC-9 (Series 10 & 30), F-27 & Piper Navajo. The DC-9 became "backbone" of the Air West Fleet and wore many of the different two color schemes. Click Here to See Air West's DC-9 Fleet Count. The new paint schemes were bright, bold and featured eight different colors: pink, orange, lime, blue, mustard, olive, gold & teal - in combinations of two on a white fuselage. This livery became one of the more memorable, even if short lived, airline liveries of the 1960s. (If you would like to see some small scale DC-9 Models with some different Air West liveries please check them out in my "Models of Other Aircraft" page.) After receiving all of the governmental approvals, the airline ownership change officially took place on March 31, 1970. Once Howard Hughes acquired the airline the name was changed to Hughes Airwest and effective July 1, 1970, the new name along with a new single scheme was adopted for all aircraft - a bright yellow fuselage with blue titles & logo. Click Here To See Hughes Airwest DC-9-31 Model & History.

Click Here to View a Photo of a Similar Aircraft
Unfortunately photos of Air West DC-9s are very limited & I couldn't find a DC-9-14 in photo in the same colors as the model. However, I did find a photo of an Air West DC-9-31 in the same colors.
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Photo Courtesy Of & Many Thanks To: AIRLINERS.NET and Photographer Hans Melin